Lighting device for vehicles



Sept'. 18,1928. 1,684,695

F. N. DRAPER LIGHTING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 2, 1926 2 sheets-sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

F. N. DRAPER LIGHTING DEVICE FOB VEHICLES Filed Aug. 2, y1926 Sept. 18, 1928.

lPatented Sept.` 18', 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK N. Daarna, or DENVER, cononAnoI LIGHTING DEVICE FOR VEHIGLIEIS.m

Application led August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,591. y

My invention relates tolighting devices for motor driven vehicles and more particularly to an adjustable lighting device ofthe type commonly known as .spotlights?.

provide a ,light of the above described character which when not in use may be retracted through an opening of the part of an automobile on.A which itis mounted, in connection l with a support by which tlre opening is closedfi l Another object of the invention is to mount the light in combination with a` ventilator- 'shutter of a motor vehicle. .A further object l is to construct the light so that it,may be partiallyl dismounted l from its support and used as a trouble light to illuminate different parts of the vehicle for the purpose of adjustments or repairs, and still other objects reside in details of constructionand a fnovel arrangement o f parts as will fully appear in the course of the following.description.-

In the accompanying drawings in the sev- "eral views of which like parts are similarly designated, V Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a motor vehicle showing my improved illumi-y nating device 'in two different positions,-

Figure 2,'an enarged vertical section of 3 the lighting devicein connection with a suping in the cowl of an automobile,

' port adapted to cover a: -ventila-ting open ure 2',` p.

Figure 4, asectiona-l elevation showingethe light as it is mounted on a support. covering a Ventilating opening inthe top of an automobile of the enclosed type, f Figure 5, a similar view showing a modification ofthe construction illustrated inFig- 4ure2,and ,y

Figure 6', a section taken `on the line y6,--6 Figure. p. I Referring first to Figures 2`and 3 ofthe drawings, .the support `for the spot light comprises two plate-members 5 and 6 fastened together `at an acute angle to each other by.

. means of a rigid brace 7. The two plates are concaved` to provide a marginal ange for engagement with the partto which theA support 1s applied, at opposite sides ofthe opening hereinafter described and one of them has an extension 8 for its hinged connection with the part. l f

The part above' referred to is in this instance the cowl 9 of an automobile, which has It is an objectof the present invention to a Ventilating opening 10 adapted to be closed by elther ,of the two plates of which the lamp-support is composed. p

The support 4is by means of its extension, hinged to a lug 12 on the underside of the cowl and itis connected with a suitable-ad- )ustmg mechanism for its movement to different positions at the will of the driver of the vehicle. l

-The adjustingmeans as shown in Figure 2, comprises ^a sleeve-nut 13 mounted in an opening'of the dashboard 14 of the vehicle by means of 'a ball-and-socket joint 15, and a screw threaded link 16 cooperating with the nut, in pivotal connection'with a lug 17 on the underside of the plate 6. The members of the support are positioned at opposite sides of the opening in the cowl so that either of them may close the opening in'an eXtreme position,

while in another position they may open the at right angles to each other.` The light comprises a casing 18 provided with a hollow stem 19X and open at one side to receive the lamp'proper which, inthe form shown in the drawln'g, consists of a reflector 20 and an Fina) candescent bulb 421,1theI wires 22 .of which Figure 3, a section on the line -3-3 Fig-.

pass through the hollow stem.

The lamp is held in place by a retaining Arim 23screwed on the cashing, and it has sui- `jointed parts 25 land 26 onesof which has a pivotal connection with the lamp-support as 'at 27, while the other is rotatable .inl an opening of the dash board 28 of the vehicle.

yThe two members of the handle are hollow to receive the lampvwires, and the member 26` carries a switch 29 by which the circuit of the lamp is controlled. The member .26 of the handle is connected with the stem of the casing by a flexible shaft 30 within the other 10oVy member, for the purpose of turningthe stem V about its axs when it is desired toipoint the face of the lamp in different directions.

The device has been shown in full lines in Figure 2, in the position in which the'lamp is concealed withinthe cowl and the upper plate ot .the support covers the ventilator opening of the same. In the broken line position, the lamp extends above the cowl for use as a spot light'and theinner plate vcloses the opening and vit will be understood Vvs'ithouturt-her illustration that lin loosely mounted in a socketfof the plate 6., The extension of the' stem is longitudinally intermediate positions both plates ofthe sup port may be separated from the opening for slotted for its pivotal connection with a link 33 which by means of a ball-and-socket joint 34. is connected, with an angular operating handle'35 extending through an opening of the dash-board.

The handle is capable of wise through the opening and it isconnected withthe lamp-support by means of an eye 36 yon the' inner plate Vof the-support, through Lan opening for the. passage of the electric-` wires to a conveniently positioned switch not which the handle extends.

`The hollow stem of the lamp-casing has The construction illustrated in Figure 4 differs in that the lamp-support isv applied to cover a Ventilating-opening 38 in the top 39 ofthe vehicle. The support is, as inthe iirst:l

. described form. of the invention, composed of two plates 40 vand 41. In the present construction, however, they are fixed together means of an arcuate member 50, at an o t use angle to eachother to close the opening in either the operative position or the-retracted position of the lamp. The support is. 4hinged at an end of the o ening, as at 42,

and the lower plate has a ho low boss 43 upon which the lamp-casingis supported through --the medium of `an inverted hemisphe'rical cup 44. The support is held in any desired position by means of a l'spring 49, which is in engagement with the arcuate member 50 at all times. v 1

The stem 45 of the lamp-casing 46 extends below the plate 41 of the'support, where'it visprovided with a knob 47 and a spring 48 coiled around the stem between theknob and a flange at theend of 'the hollow boss on the plate, functions to hold the parts adjustably 1n their relative positions.

The wiresy of the electric is in this construction elongated as. at*l sliding lengthbulb-socket extendl through the hollow stem as before, and a cir-'- cuit controlling switch 49V is mounted on the knob.

I It will be apparent that the position of thel lighting device of the last described -construction is easily adjusted by the occupants of the vehicle, anyone of which may, by reaching upwardly, manipulate both the knob and the electric light switch.

The light on the cowl of the vehicle, shown "in Figures 2 and, is adjusted by one of the4 occupants of the 'fronteseat of thevehicle,

who by means of the handle projecting beyond vthe dash-board of the vehicle, controls the position of both the support and the lamp, and also may operate the switch of the circuit in which' the lamp-socket is connected.

It will be vobserved that the invention in either form provides a convenient means for the operationy of an illuminating devicefas either a spotlight or a trouble lamp, in operative connection with a support which while serving in the capacity ofa ventilator'-y shutter, permits of moving the device to either an exposed position or a retracted and concealed position.

V'ariationsl inthe construction `of the ad justing means and other `parts of the lamp and its supporting means,bther than thoseA "shown and herein described, may be resorted to Vwithin the spirit of the invention as de` fined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure/by Let-` tei-s Patent is 1. A disappearing automobile light comprising a light in theautomobile mounted for f universal movement and adapted" to move throuA h an opening in the automobile tothe outsi e thereof, means to mover-the light'.

through 'said opening,`means 'in the automobile for the universal movement of `said li ht, and means closing the opening when thelight is inside or outside of the automobile.`-

' 2. A disappearing automobile light com'- "1 prising a light in the automobile mounted for universal movement and adapted to move through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, means inside of the automo-4 bile for the universal movement of said li` ht, L

and means closing the opening when the light `is inside or outside of t eautomobile.

prising a light in the automobile a apted to 3. A disappearing automobile light com move through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, shutter means, upon which the light is mounted vfor universal movement, closing the opening when thelight is inside or outside 'of the automobile, screw' means inthe automobile having a' ball and socket connection with a relatively stationary part 'of t-heautomobile and having a ivotal connection .with the shutter means w ereby I to move the light through said opening by I Imanipulation of the screw'means, and means for the universal movement of said light.

4. A disappearing automobile light comprising a light in the automobile adapted to move through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, shutter means, upon which the light is mounted, a ball and socket connection between the light and the shutter means, the shutter means closing the opening` when the light is inside or outside of the automobile. means to move the light through said opening, and a handle in the automobile having a ball and socket connection with the lamp for its universal movement.

A disappearing automobile light oomprising light movable through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, a

mounting for the light disposed to close the opening when the light is outside of the automobile` a brace on the mounting extending through the opening, and a shutter on the brace disposed to close the opening When the light is inside of the automobile, and means to move the light through the opening by moving the mounting of the light. y

6. A disappearing automobile light comprising a light in the automobilev adapted to move through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, shutter means, upon Which the light is mounted closing the opening whenI the light is inside or outside of t-he automobile, and screw means in the automobile pivotally connected with a stationary part of the automobile and With the shutter means, whereby to move'the light through ysaid opening by manipulation of the screw means.

7. A disappearing automobile light comprising a light in the automobile adapted to move through an opening in the automobile to the outside thereof, shutter means, upon which the light is mounted closing the opening When the light is inside 0r outside of the automobile, and means in the automobile for moving the shutter means, whereby to move the light through said opening.

In testimony -whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANK N. DRAPER. 

